The purpose of this project has been the revision of the first year chemistry laboratory curriculum at the college to include new and revised experiments which make use of microcomputers to record and process experimental data. The equipment which was acquired includes 10 computer data acquisition and processing workstations, and an Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer with data analysis computer and spectral analysis software. The data acquisition workstations are being used in experiments involving pH and potentiometric titrations, chemical kinetics, and thermochemistry. The infrared spectrophotometer and dedicated computer is being used to analyze the reactants and products of organic reactions which are being introduced into the first year curriculum which more realistically represents modern chemical laboratory work, and therefore better educates science and engineering students in the principles and practices of modern chemistry. The institution is contributing to the project in an amount equal to the NSF funds.
